World Series dreams are still alive and well for 10 different postseason teams across Major League Baseball, but the rest of the league has already turned its attention toward what promises to be a busy offseason.
The free-agent market will be loaded with elite difference-makers such as David Price, Yoenis Cespedes and Johnny Cueto, while teams that likely won’t contend in 2016 could trade key pieces in an effort to replenish their farm systems.
Naturally, the rumor mill is already churning even though the playoffs haven’t even started yet. Here is a look at some of the latest buzz from around the league.
National League West Teams Have Eyes on Mike Leake
Mike Leake finished his 2015 campaign with a complete-game shutout of the Los Angeles Dodgers, which was an impressive way to make a statement immediately before free agency.
Bob Nightengale of USA Today noted there are a couple of National League West teams interested in the right-hander’s services for the 2016 campaign:
The presence of the San Francisco Giants is not a surprise because they saw Leake up close for nine starts this season after they acquired him before the trade deadline. The front office and coaching staff are familiar with what he brings to the table, and he clearly did enough to merit further interest.
While Leake was brilliant in his final start, he turned in a mediocre 4.07 ERA in San Francisco and only had 29 strikeouts in 55.1 innings pitched. He was more effective for the Cincinnati Reds with a 3.56 ERA in 21 starts, although he finished with a respectable 3.70 ERA for the entire season.
Jim Duquette of MLB.com ranked Leake as the eighth-best free agent this offseason: “He was an underrated pickup by the Giants, and he will have multiple suitors this offseason because of his overall ability and durability.”
It is hard to argue with the fact Leake posted at least 30 starts in each of last four seasons, especially when the ability to keep pitching staffs healthy is so critical during a 162-game schedule.
Pitchers like Price, Jordan Zimmermann and Cueto will demand pricey contracts, but Leake will be more affordable and is one of the most reliable middle-of-the-rotation starters in baseball. Look for more than just the Giants and San Diego Padres to come knocking this offseason.
A.J. Pierzynski Could be Back in an Atlanta Uniform
A.J. Pierzynski is 38 years old and just finished his 18th season in the major leagues.
Incredibly, he tallied a .300 batting average, nine home runs, 24 doubles and 49 RBI and played in 113 games in 2015. It was far better than the Atlanta Braves could have realistically hoped for after they signed him to a one-year deal this offseason, especially after the catcher hit .251 and posted a disappointing minus-0.8 wins above replacement mark in 2014.
According to David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the Braves would love the former All-Star back in 2016: “Pierzynski is 38. He’ll be 39 in December, and the Braves hope to re-sign him.”
Manager Fredi Gonzalez reiterated as much, per O’Brien:
He’s been terrific. We’ve gotten every nickel and dime we spent on him. Here’s a guy who was going to catch 50 games, ends up catching 100-plus, hitting .300, doing everything you ask him to do. He’s been great. He’s been great in the locker room, he’s been great for me, he’s been great with me, he’s been great with the coaching staff, great with the pitching staff. I can’t complain. Can not complain. Really.
When he plays there’s a little edge to him, which you appreciate more when you see him (daily) than when you see him across the diamond (on an opposing team). He’s been terrific.
That type of presence and the fact Pierzynski leads all active catchers with 1,872 games at the position are what make the veteran an intriguing free agent. He is also a two-time All-Star and won a World Series with the Chicago White Sox as part of his postseason experience.
It makes sense that Atlanta would want him back, but those traits are appealing to other teams looking to add a veteran and catcher depth to the roster as well. Pierzynski may cost more than $2 million next season.
Detroit Looking for Fireball Closer
The Cincinnati Reds were a disaster this year and lost 14 of their final 15 games on the way to a 64-98 record. However, there were a few bright spots, such as Joey Votto and Aroldis Chapman, and the hard-throwing relief pitcher could lace it up for the Detroit Tigers in 2016.
Jon Heyman of CBS Sports suggested as much: “Detroit, which needs to remake its bullpen and will be especially targeting a closer and setup man, could take a look at Reds closer extraordinaire Aroldis Chapman, who could be on the market again after Cincinnati decided to hold onto him at the deadline.”
Chapman posted a 1.63 ERA, which was his lowest since the 2012 campaign, and 33 saves (he registered the save in more than half of his team’s victories). Perhaps most impressively, the southpaw finished with 116 strikeouts in 66.1 innings and, according to an Associated Press report (via ESPN.com), threw the 62 fastest pitches in the league this season.
His average velocity for his fastball also led the league at 99.98 mph.
Chapman is under contract for the 2016 season with the Reds, but the team probably won’t compete for a playoff spot. The Tigers could entice a rebuilding Cincinnati franchise with a package of youngsters, although Heyman noted Detroit does not want to give up pitchers Daniel Norris and Michael Fulmer.
The Tigers landed Norris in the Price deal and Fulmer in the Cespedes deal.
That may be the case, but Detroit’s bullpen struggles reared their ugly head throughout 2015. As of Sunday, it was 27th in the league in bullpen ERA and only had 35 saves as a team, which was less than 11 different individual pitchers.
The Tigers may be hesitant to give up their best young prospects, but they need to improve their bullpen if they hope to challenge for a postseason spot in 2016.
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